USA Tour: Day 10

Saturday, August 3. I got up at 6 again and went down to the kitchen to wait for the coffee machine to come on. Laureva came down at 6:45 and laid down again on the couch and fell back asleep.

I left her sleeping about 7:30 to take a quick shower. Of course, she woke up and started calling out for me which woke up her sister. Oops. 

Depart for Kansas City shortly before 10 (Eastern). 5 states and a time zone change: GA, TN, KY, IL, MO. 41+ mpg with our little hybrid. 4 major rivers, some more than once: TN, OH, MS, MO! 

I24W closed through Nashville. Argh. Car GPS didn't know. Time lost figuring a work around. Lost a good hour in all. 

12:45 (Central) Lunch at IHOP in Clarksville.

Parked, got out, heard Laureva shout "I found doudou pillow!" She had put it in the seat pocket in front of her seat! Much general rejoicing and head shaking. 

We crossed the Mississippi at St Louis in nice clear weather and enjoyed spotting the arch. Much nicer than 3 years ago when we went through there in pouring down rain. 

Entering MO, landscape shift to shorter and sparser trees and water towers in every town. Rockin' out across IL and MO to Sirius Rock Classic Vinyl radio: Stones, Clapton, The Band, etc.

Arriving KC, our exit was closed! This seemed to be our travel curse of the day. Luckily, this time the detour didn't add on any time. We arrived on Cherry Street, KC MO, at 9pm. Serra, Mike and Samantha were waiting out front. We all hung out by the pool for three hours with red wine, cheese and baguettes. The girls immediately latched on to eleven-year-old Sam who they remember from last June in France and we hardly spoke to them after that. Sam loaned them old suits for a late night swim, then some t-shirts for pajamas as I hadn't unpacked our bags yet. The girls were quite happy with that arrangement. Finally to bed shortly after midnight!